{'A Different Vibe' - Have Manchester United Shown a Mentality Change?

If you can't triumph, avoid defeat - according to traditional wisdom.

Prior to their journey to Nottingham Forest, Man Utd had gained merely eight points from deficit situations under their manager. They had failed to secure any from the past six games when they trailed since the trip to AFC Bournemouth last spring, when a late effort secured a tie.

When they were behind at the City Ground after letting in twice in a couple of minutes, as Nottingham Forest reversed a disputed opening period opener, United were staring down the barrel.

The question to the manager after his side recovered to tie could not have been more straightforward.

Had that match occurred the previous campaign, do you feel it would have ended in defeat?'

The answer was equally emphatic.

"Yes, and by a larger margin, in my opinion."

We can never know the actual outcome. However, we do know that the young player showed why the coach picks him at defensive wing by scoring a spectacular first-time volley from just outside the box nine minutes from time to secure a draw.

It's been clear since the beginning of the season that Manchester United are performing at a higher level this season. Since the beginning of autumn, they have also been achieving more positive outcomes.

The resolve, the desire, the unwillingness to surrender are unquantifiables.

In this match, the manager felt his squad showed they have improved at that too.

"In the past, if we had this kind of bad five minutes and we conceded two goals, we don't recover," stated Amorim. "Today is a distinct feeling. It's evident we might not win the match but we are not going to lose. And that is a mindset a big team occasionally has to have."

Amorim didn't say it, but the signing of the Brazilian forward and Bryan Mbeumo likely contributed.

The attacker is not one to shy away from challenging circumstances, on the contrary in fact. In the opening period, when he was jeered by the home fans for what they felt was his tactical play, he responded - rather than ignore it - gesturing toward the crest on his kit.

Mbeumo is a hustle-bustle menace, the perfect example of a player who will never allow an rival a moment's peace.

Amorim was asked exactly what had caused the psychological growth. Beyond mentioning the self-belief generated from the previous three consecutive victories, he didn't really give an answer.

"Our self-belief, of course, is completely changed," he said. "We came from three positive performances and we have a newfound confidence. The players comprehend one another better. We communicate more about these aspects.

"We proved this year we can experience difficult periods but then, we produce three strong performances.

"We just need to be inside the match until the final 10 minutes. In the past, we could have lost everything based on how we played the encounter. Now, the feeling was not that one."

Doubt Lingers Regarding Prospects of the striker and the midfielder

While this represented a day when the team showed their resilience, it was also a moment that likely created the Dutch forward and the young midfielder even more uncertain of their roles in the manager's new-look squad.

In his pre-match press conference, Amorim said it was likely members of the squad who think they are at risk of not making the international tournament will request transfers in the winter transfer window.

It is fair to assume Zirkzee and Mainoo fit into that category. Zirkzee has managed less than two full games from his 4 Premier League substitute appearances this season. For Mainoo, the number is 138 from 7.

Neither has started a Premier League match this season and neither were they asked to be substituted on at the City Ground, as United sought a way back into a contest they were losing from the 50th minute.

"Our squad includes a great deal of quality on the bench but sometimes I have the feeling if I'm going to disrupt the flow constantly, I'm going to interrupt something," said Amorim. "We were improving during the later stages, so my feeling was not to change anything with the guys in attack."

The midfielder had a deal in place to move to the Italian club in the final stages of the summer window but the club would not approve a deal. The striker was returning from a fitness issue but is now open to the possibility of a move back to Italy.

The circumstances is made more complex by the loss of Mbeumo and Amad to the continental tournament in the middle of December, a time which includes a couple of midweek games which will require a level of squad changes not previously needed.

As the championship match is on 18 January, the pair should be back long before the signing period ends on 2 February - which may mean a later outcome than what eager to leave individual would prefer.

"This is about the demands of the game," said the coach, when asked directly about the forward and the midfielder. "They know it's temporary.

"It's nothing to do with ability - and we have a many games."